On Wednesday, some residents affected by the government’s demolition exercise to give room for the ongoing construction of Circular Road, stormed the state secretariat to protest against the exercise.
The African Action Congress (AAC) Chairman in Oyo State, Kayode Babayomi, on Thursday, said he is sure that Governor Seyi Makinde cannot produce a certificate of occupancy for their family house in Ibadan like most residents whose land has been forcefully taken by his government.
On Wednesday, some residents affected by the government’s demolition exercise to give room for the ongoing construction of Circular Road, stormed the state secretariat to protest against the exercise.
SaharaReporters learned that the protesters hit the major roads of the ancient towns and stormed the state secretariat to stop the state government from proceeding with the ongoing demolition.
The residents earlier claimed that scores of people had been killed with over 300,000 others displaced as a result of the exercise. They lamented that the original plan for the road stipulates that 150 metres should be allowed as setback but this was increased by Makinde’s administration to 500 metres.
Accusing Seyi Makinde’s administration of being insensitive towards the plights of the people when he appeared on News Central TV on Thursday morning, the AAC chairman said: “The affected residents have engaged Makinde for like three times, Makinde has never come on board to say anything on this issue.”
He continued: “These people have come out to protest, Makinde has never come out and say ‘Oh, this is the situation of things. This is what we are doing.’ Let me tell you something, ask this Makinde himself, in his father’s compound, Makinde’s compound, ask him if they have or if his father has C of O.
“Lagos-Ibadan express road which happens to the one of the busiest in West Africa, the setback is not 500 metres, so what is happening? It shows that Makinde just wants to grab this land and sell to his cronies.”
When SaharaReporters later contacted Babayomi for further clarification, the AAC chairman said he is “confidently sure they don’t have C of O”.
SaharaReporters
